The world's first Android-based smartphone with 3D facial recognition technology is unlikely to hit the market until the third quarter of 2018 due to insufficient capability to integrate related hardware and software at 3D sensing solution providers, according to Digitimes Research.

Zoetek has introduced a healthcare smartwatch and a smart garment for healthcare of the elderly.

Samsung Electronics, once a major smartphone brand in both China and India, has seen its market shares and influence in the two countries fading away fast.

China-based handset brands have ramped up their chip orders since March with the demand momentum likely to continue into early May, according to sources from Taiwan's IC suppliers.

Chunghwa Telecom (CHT) will team up with Samsung Electronics to launch 5CA (carrier aggregation) services in Taiwan starting June, utilizing Samsung's Galaxy S9-series devices, according to a CHT announcement.

IT and consumer electronics channel distributor Synnex Technology International has reported consolidated revenues of NT$33.67 billion (US$1.15 billion) for March, increasing 51.91% sequentially and 16.45% on year.

Asustek Computer has launched its new ZenFone 5 in the Taiwan market priced at NT$11,990 (US$410) targeting the mid-range smartphone segment.

The annual Global Sources Electronics Show kicked off its spring edition of 2018 on April 11 at the AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong, with over 6,600 booths housing more than 100,000 exhibit items covering a full range of the latest consumer and mobile electronics products highlighting AI (artificial intelligence)...

Chip demand from China-based handset companies is picking up and will buoy sales performance at related chip suppliers, such as application processor designer MediaTek and LCD driver IC solution provider FocalTech Systems, starting the second quarter of 2018, according to industry sources.

Pegatron has announced consolidated revenues of NT$82.99 billion (US$2.82 billion) for March, rising 8.01% on month and 11.22% on year with its first-quarter 2018 consolidated revenues rising 17.53% on year to come to NT$280.89 billion.

While all-screen smartphones have undoubtedly become the mainstream of the handset industry, many industry watchers are now wondering whether notch smartphones - models with a u-shape notch on the top of the display as inspired by Apple's iPhone X - could gain further momentum in 2018.

Wistron has registered consolidated revenues of NT$70.29 billion (US$2.39 billion) for March, up 4.35 on month and 9.31% on year, with EPS of NT$0.29, while its first-quarter consolidated revenues went up 28.89% on year to arrive at NT$217.05 billion with EPS reaching NT$0.34.

Asustek Computer has announced consolidated revenues of NT$99 billion (US$3.38 billion) for the first quarter of 2018, down 9% on year with revenues for March increasing 51% on month but dropping 10% on year to come to NT$40.8 billion.

Upstream component makers in the handset supply chains are braced for brisk sales in the second quarter of 2018, buoyed by the launch of new models and the replenishment demand for components by vendors, according to industry sources.

The world's first wave of foldable smartphone is likely to make its debut at the end of 2018 as a number of brand vendors are accelerating their R&D efforts on related projects, according to industry watchers.

HTC has reported consolidated revenues of NT$2.771 billion (US$94.77 million) for March, up 6.1% on month but down 46.7% on year.

Apple is gearing up efforts developing micro LED panels for both small-size and large-size applications and has received support from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) for the making of small-size ones, according to Digitimes Research's senior analyst Luke Lin.

First-tier China-based smartphone vendors including Huawei, Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi Technology are stepping up their deployments and investments in overseas markets, as they have set strategies to continue pursuing higher shipment volumes and market share in 2018, according to sources from Taiwan's handset...

China smartphone vendors including Huawei, Oppo and Xiaomi have lately launched their respective 2018 flagship devices boasting high price-performance ratios and multiple smart functions, seeking to cannibalize the global high-end smartphone market now over 60% controlled by Samsung and Apple, according...

HMD Global has launched Nokia 7 Plus and Nokia 6 (2018) in Taiwan with the availability to begin on April 1 at NT$12,990 (US$446) and NT$7,990, respectively.

Foxconn Interconnect Technology (FIT), a subsidiary of Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry), has annouced plans to wholly acquire US-based mobile and peripheral devices supplier Belkin International for US$866 million in cash.

HTC has reported a record quarterly loss of NT$9.81 billion (US$337.37 million) or NT$11.93 per share for the fourth quarter of 2017.

As Apple has reportedly decided to continue using 3D sensor-based face recognition in its new iPhone devices in 2018, Taiwan suppliers in the 3D sensor supply chain, including those of compound semiconductor, IC testing equipment and optical components packaging services, are expected to significantly...

Smartphone vendors in the Android camp are rushing to incorporate in-display fingerprint recognition technology into their 18:9 all-screen models as they have turned conservative about adopting 3D sensor-based face recognition modules that are too costly to afford, according to industry sources.

The new Samsung Galaxy S9+ equipped with 64GB of NAND flash memory (model number SM-G965U1) carries a bill of materials (BOM) cost of US$375.80, much higher than for previous versions of the company's smartphones. The preliminary estimated total is US$43.00 higher than costs for the Galaxy S8+, according...